5 Surprising Mind-Body Connections

Learn how certain physical states like hunger and pain are really a case of mind over matter

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While you may think most physical symptoms are the result of bodily issues, you'd be surprised to learn that oftentimes they're more about what's going on in your mind. Whether it's boredom-induced hunger or high blood pressure brought on by stress, find out which conditions your brain could be responsible for, and how to outsmart your gray matter.

When that 3 p.m. slump strikes at work, most of us have the urge to hit the vending machine—even if we're still full from lunch. Why the sudden snack attack? "If you feel bored or stressed, you'll usually turn to behavior that brings you comfort or stimulation. And for most people, that means eating," says Gregory Jantz, PhD, author of Overcoming Anxiety, Worry and Fear. "When people experience stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol, which sends a signal to the brain to react in some way. And often, that request for action is misinterpreted as hunger." Instead of letting your brain zero in on a quick fix, Dr. Jantz recommends getting to the root of the problem. "Train yourself to ask what you really need right now. It's probably not food that you're truly after." Once you identify your emotion, you'll realize you aren't actually hungry at all. Then, you can find a remedy for whatever's bothering you. So, for example, if you're looking for comfort, call a friend. Or, if you're bored, try taking a walk around the block to stimulate your mind. Photo: Thinkstock

You've heard the TV advertisement stating "depression hurts," and it's true. Depressed people who report feeling pain aren't imagining it or being overly sensitive. "When someone is clinically depressed, levels of serotonin and endorphin (the 'feel-good' brain chemicals) will drop severely, making that person hypersensitive to pain," says T. Byram Karasu, MD, psychiatrist-in-chief at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. (Other physical symptoms can include trouble sleeping and a low libido.) Because a chemical imbalance is at the root of clinical depression, many people benefit from taking antidepressants, which help restore the levels of serotonin in the brain. If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of depression—loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed, weight loss, thoughts of suicide or sleeplessness––see your primary-care doctor. Photo: Thinkstock

According to Jeffrey Fisch, MD, medical director at Sher Fertility Institute in Las Vegas, high levels of stress can affect fertility. While day-to-day stressors like being stuck in traffic or missing deadlines at work aren't likely to take a toll, bigger events, such as losing a loved one, can. That's because when you're stressed, your brain signals your adrenal glands to produce cortisol—along with beta endorphins—which suppresses the production of GnRH, a hormone critical to fertility. In fact, researchers at Harvard Medical School studied women who had trouble conceiving and discovered that, out of the group of participants who received psychological infertility support, including relaxation training, 55 percent had a viable pregnancy within one year, while only 20 percent of the control group did. Joanne Verkuilen, founder of Circle + Bloom, a company that creates mind-body programs for women's health, recommends guided visualization (a deep relaxation technique) as one possible option to reduce stress and promote relaxation. For more stress management tips, check out WD's article "How to Combat Every Kind of Stress." Photo: Thinkstock

Long days and busy schedules undoubtedly contribute to sleepiness, but so does your brain—especially during the winter months. "When the days are short and dark, people report feeling lethargic and unmotivated, as well as changes in their sleeping habits," says Norman Rosenthal, MD, author of Transcendence. He attributes this fatigue to the brain's production of melatonin, a sedative chemical. When the lights are on, your brain stops producing melatonin, but when it's dark, your brain is triggered to start churning it out again. If your room is particularly dark or you have to rise before the sun, Dr. Rosenthal recommends using an alarm clock that simulates daylight, like this one, to help you fend off fatigue. Photo: Thinkstock

Hypertension—when your heart has to pump harder to circulate blood through your body, putting your arteries under pressure––is often called "the silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. According to Dr. Rosenthal, along with other risk factors like obesity and high sodium intake, stress plays a major role in high blood pressure. "When you are under stress your adrenal glands secrete cortisol and adrenaline, which tell your brain to ramp up your blood pressure and make the heart pump faster," he explains. "While biologically this is a good thing, like if you're under attack, your body is not meant to constantly react this way." In his research, Dr. Rosenthal has found that meditation—learning to control the way your mind responds to stress—will help lower your blood pressure. "You're essentially training your brain to be less sensitive to stress," which in turn signals your body to produce less adrenaline and cortisol. Photo: Thinkstock